John Simm's Candid Musical Selections: Starting with Childhood Loves to Unexplained Dislikes
The first song I fell in love with
My most primal recollection is stepping into a room at kindergarten where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was captivated by the audio textures, and John Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the refrain, I recall believing: “This must be music!”
The inaugural single I bought
When I was eight years old, I was victorious in a contest at school to pick a brand new record to play at the weekly dance party we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to Woolworths, and I picked out Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first single I bought with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a record shop in Colne. It was number one at the time, and I selected it when my dad noted that it was by one of the Beatles.
The tune I sing at karaoke
I candidly actively avoid public singing and avoid it at all costs. But if forced, I’d choose Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.
The piece I inexplicably remember each line to
I not long ago discovered that I can recall pretty much the entire lyrical content to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and each track on Graceland by Paul Simon.
The ideal song to blast at a soirée
It depends on the point of the party you are at. At the start it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the party deepens, I’d transition into Prince, the Rolling Stones and Bowie, and when it really kicks off, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an massive track.
The track I can no longer hear
I for some reason detest Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.
The best track to get intimate to
Come Together by the Beatles.
The LP that altered my perspective
When I was 12 and starting to learn the guitar, I’d only listen to 1950s rock and roll, and was fixated on The King, the rock pioneer, the killer, the New Orleans legend, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder played Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still guitar music, but it was high voltage rock ’n’roll. Instantly after he dropped the vinyl on the record player, I was a fan for life.
The tune that wakes me in the morning
What’d I Say in its full glory by Ray Charles.
The piece that makes me cry
Virtually any music makes me touched. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and the Beatles all bring a tear to my eye because of the tune and sheer perfection of the voices. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner hits me hard without fail.
The track I’d like to be played at my funeral
The King. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m laid to rest in the ground, I’ll have Way Down.
